Natural Resource Management Overview

What is a Natural Resource Management Degree?

Natural resource management is about finding ways to sustain the Earth’s resources in the face of the growing human population. Those wanting to become natural resource managers are typically passionate about clean water, clean energy, and clean environments. They study in the classroom, in the computer lab, and in the field and learn how to apply scientific and ecological knowledge, as well as economic and social awareness to find solutions to preserving our natural world.

Coursework in natural resource management programs covers:

Biology
Botany
Soil science
Geology
Geography
Land-use planning
Energy use
Climate change
Natural resource policy
Environmental ethics

Program Options

Associate Degree in Natural Resource Management – Two Year Duration
The Associate Degree in Natural Resource Management provides students with a foundation that prepares them for entry-level jobs in the field or further study in a bachelor’s program.

The typical associate curriculum introduces topics such as:

Chemistry
Geology
Forest biology
Wildlife conservation
Ecological restoration
Natural resource policy

Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resource Management – Four Year Duration
Graduates with a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resource Management often go on to work as conservation officers, environmental managers, and compliance officers.

At this level, students take courses like these:

Principles of Biology
Chemical Bonding and Organic Chemistry
Natural Resources Science and Management – forestry, soils, rangeland, water, fisheries, wildlife
Dendrology – survey of the structure, function, ecology, and identification of trees
Forest Ecology and Silviculture – forest ecosystems, soil characteristics used in assessing site quality
Forest Mensuration – techniques of photo mapping and photo-based inventory systems
Natural Resource Pathology – the life cycles and management of tree disease
Public Policy Process
Life Sciences Statistics
Introduction to Archaeology
Geographic Information Systems – geospatial data models, geoprocessing procedures
Fisheries Management – stock management and restoration, fisheries policy
Contemporary Issues in Natural Resources Management

Master’s Degree in Natural Resource Management – Two to Three Year Duration
Natural resource management master’s programs typically focus on research within a specific subfield of the natural resource sector. These include:

Ecology and land management
Fisheries management
Natural resources policy
Outdoor recreation and parks management
Urban forestry – management of trees in urban environments
Water management – water ecosystems, water and society, water and economics
Wildlife conservation

Here are samples of courses offered within these specialized areas:

Community Planning and Regional Development
Earth Systems (geosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere) and global change
Ecological Economics
Ecological Risk Assessment
Energy Systems
Environmental Law
Research Methods
Sustainable Tourism Planning

Students who graduate with this master’s degree have employment options in both the public and private sector. They often take on management roles in areas like ecological research, wildlife conservation and habitat enhancement, and parks administration.

Doctoral Degree in Natural Resource Management – Four to Five Year Duration
Most students who commit to earning a Doctoral Degree in Natural Resource Management are interested in working in academic, research, or senior consulting positions in the field. While doctoral programs include some required courses, they generally give students a lot of freedom to choose electives and conduct research on their dissertation topic. Possible areas of focus include:

Atmospheric science
Ecosystem science
Environmental economics
Hydrology
Oceanography
Natural resource policy and ethics

Most programs require doctoral candidates to complete a qualifying exam, a dissertation research topic proposal, a final written dissertation, and an oral defense of the dissertation.

Degrees Similar to Natural Resource Management

Environmental Planning
Students of environmental planning study the relationship between people and the environment. They learn how to minimize the effects of human activity on the natural world. This involves examining things like our homes, our methods of travel, and our eating habits.

Energy and Environmental Policy
The focus of degree programs in energy and environmental policy is sustainable energy and water development, environmental protection, climate change policy, and green economics.

Fisheries Sciences and Management
Fishing and fisheries sciences and management degree programs focus on the biology and ecology of fish and shellfish. Students of the field learn about fisheries protection, production, and management. In short, the objective of these programs is to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to maintain long-term sustainable harvesting.

Forestry
Forestry degree programs teach students how to conserve and manage forests through sustainable practices. This means the curriculum covers both preserving biodiversity, as well as producing wood products in ecologically responsible ways. Classes also address contemporary issues like climate change, carbon management, and how to plan and manage urban forests or green spaces in metropolitan areas.

Forest Sciences
Programs in forest sciences teach students about the complex ecosystems of forests. The curriculum covers the scientific principles related to forest wildlife, fires, insects, soil, tree genetics, and forest regeneration.

Pulp and Paper Engineering
This degree field is concerned with pulp and papermaking processes, pulp and paper testing, paper quality, environmental control, and related new technologies.

Wildlife Science and Management
Wildlife science and management majors learn how animals exist within their habitats and ecosystems. Graduates in this field may become game wardens, conservation officers, natural resource officers, or wildlife managers.

Skills You’ll Learn

Research
Data collection and analysis
Operations planning and project management
Technical report writing
GIS (geographic information systems) and GPS (global positioning system) software
Communication
Ethics
Community outreach

What Can You Do with a Natural Resource Management Degree?

Natural resource management grads typically work in one of these areas:

Land Management
Land management professionals determine how particular areas of land should be used. In doing so, they consider physical environments and biological factors like wildlife habitats, as well as the human factors of recreation, livestock development, mineral development, and energy production.